Melbourne, Australia – Lando Norris solidified his position as a favorite for teh 2025 Formula 1 driver’s title by setting the fastest time in the opening practice session of the Australian Grand Prix. The session, held at Albert Park, was punctuated by two separate red flag incidents, adding to the drama.
Norris clocked in at 1:17.252s on Pirelli’s soft tires during the final moments of the hour-long practice. This performance put him 0.149s ahead of Carlos Sainz, the Williams driver who is participating in his first race weekend with his new team. The practice session highlighted the competitive nature of the teams,showing the ongoing development and adaptation to the Albert Park circuit.
Sainz edged out his former Ferrari teammate,Charles Leclerc,by 0.060s, putting Leclerc in third place. Local favorite Oscar Piastri followed closely behind, four-tenths of a second behind Norris in fourth place. Reigning four-time champion Max Verstappen finished fifth,just behind Piastri.
Two Red Flags Disrupt Session
Table of Contents
- 1. Two Red Flags Disrupt Session
- 2. Hamilton Faces Challenges
- 3. How might Lewis Hamilton’s lack of familiarity with the Ferrari car contribute to his struggles in FP1?
- 4. A Thrilling Start to the Australian Grand Prix: An Interview with Eva Petrova
- 5. Red Flags and Rookie Struggles
- 6. Hamilton’s Ferrari Struggles
- 7. What do you think?
Nico Hulkenberg, driving for Stake, was the first driver to venture onto the track, followed by Norris. Drivers quickly started logging laps to get up to speed on the modified circuit after a short pre-season testing period in Bahrain.
Leclerc initially led the pack, setting a time of 1:17.880s after the first 15 minutes. He was followed by George Russell of Mercedes, rookie Isack Hadjar, Norris, and Verstappen. Notably,the top five drivers represented five different teams,all using Pirelli’s medium compound tires.
Liam Lawson, Verstappen’s teammate, had an early scare when he brushed the wall at Turn 9. While he appeared to avoid critically important damage initially, further issues arose due to floor damage, which kept him in the garage for repairs.
The first red flag of the season appeared three minutes later when Australian driver Jack Doohan, piloting his Alpine encountered issues. He skirted Turn 6, scattering gravel across the track.
Race control suspended the session for seven minutes to allow a sweeper to clear the asphalt. Doohan’s car sustained damage to the left-hand edge of its floor.
Leclerc improved his leading time to 1:17.842s after the restart, 0.188s ahead of Russell.Though,verstappen soon shaved 0.146s off Leclerc’s time, becoming the first driver to use soft tires.
As drivers transitioned to soft tires, Sainz moved to the top of the leaderboard with a time of 1:17.401s, 0.060s ahead of Leclerc. The session was then red-flagged again due to a crash involving Oliver Bearman after 37 minutes.
Bearman lost control exiting the high-speed Turn 10,sending him onto the gravel. “Attempting to keep the car in check,” he returned to the track but “ultimately lost control, forcing him to hit the brakes, sending him into a spin that was stopped by him smacking into a wall.”
Bearman’s car suffered damage to its right-hand side, including the loss of the right-rear tire. At the time of the crash, he was 18th on the timesheet and finished the session in last place.
Hamilton Faces Challenges
Alex Albon of Williams finished sixth, 0.461s behind Norris and three-tenths behind teammate Sainz.The performance highlights Williams’ potential this season.
Russell followed Albon, but he ran off track at Turn 4 under braking late in the session, nudging the barrier with the nose of his W15 without causing damage.
Fernando Alonso and lance Stroll of Aston Martin were eighth and 10th fastest, respectively, with rookie Hadjar in between. Doohan was 13th, Kimi Antonelli in his Mercedes finished 14th, followed by Gabriel Bortoleto of Stake, and Bearman at the rear.
lewis Hamilton, making his practice debut with Ferrari, finished a disappointing 12th. He “complaining he could not get the car to turn as he would like, finishing 0.819s adrift.”
Lawson finished 16th, 1.203s off the pace.
The opening practice session of the Australian Grand Prix delivered a mix of excitement and challenges,with two red flags and varied performances across teams. Lando Norris’s impressive pace sets the stage for a thrilling race weekend. Keep an eye on Williams and Ferrari’s progress as the competition intensifies. Be sure to check back for more updates and insights throughout the Australian Grand Prix!
How might Lewis Hamilton’s lack of familiarity with the Ferrari car contribute to his struggles in FP1?
Archyde Exclusive: Insights on the Australian Grand Prix FP1 with Formula 1 Analyst, Eva Petrova
A Thrilling Start to the Australian Grand Prix: An Interview with Eva Petrova
The first practice session of the 2025 Australian Grand Prix delivered plenty of action, red flags, and surprising performances. To break down what we saw, we spoke with seasoned Formula 1 analyst, Eva Petrova.
Archyde: Eva, thanks for joining us. Lando Norris topped the timesheets in FP1. Did his performance surprise you,or is this a sign of things to come?
Eva Petrova: It’s fantastic to be here! Norris’s pace was certainly eye-catching. While it’s just FP1, it indicates that McLaren has brought a strong package to Melbourne. Remember, Albert Park is a unique circuit that rewards driver confidence, and Norris clearly found a good rhythm. It’s a positive signal for his Formula 1 driver’s title ambitions,but let’s not crown him just yet!
Archyde: Carlos Sainz Jr., in his first weekend with Williams, finished second. How significant is that for Williams, who are looking to climb the grid this season?
Eva Petrova: Sainz’s performance is a massive boost for Williams. A second-place finish in FP1, especially so close to Norris, underlines the potential of their car this season. It suggests they’ve made real progress in the off-season. However, it’s worth noting Alex Albon finished sixth, showing the team has the potential, with both drivers getting more time on the track, will greatly improve their performance.
Red Flags and Rookie Struggles
Archyde: We saw two red flags during the session,one for Jack Doohan and another for Oliver Bearman . How much did these incidents disrupt the teams programs?
eva Petrova: red flags are always disruptive, especially in a one-hour session. They compress the run plans and force teams to make on-the-fly adjustments. For drivers like Jack Doohan and Oliver Bearman, the incidents are particularly frustrating, perhaps derailing progress and damaging their position in standings.
Archyde: Oliver Bearman crashed out. Is this just rookie jitters in the first practice session of the grand Prix or are other factors at play.
Eva Petrova: Formula 1 is unforgiving, and Albert Park is a challenging circuit. The crash was a costly mistake. However, Bearman is still developing and gaining experience. Its likely the result of pushing the limits,coupled with the challenges of adapting to a new team and car. This also adds a ton of immediate pressure on the team to repair such critical components of the car.
Hamilton’s Ferrari Struggles
Archyde: Lewis Hamilton, in his practice debut with Ferrari, was only 12th fastest. What might be behind his struggles?
Eva Petrova: It’s never easy switching teams, especially when you’re as established as Hamilton. He needs time to gel with the Ferrari and his driving style must adapt to their equipment. Add to that the difficulties he expressed in getting the car to turn–these combinations make it a struggle. It’s still early days, and his talent is undeniable. Don’t count him out just yet, but it does signal that the transition might take longer than some anticipated.
Archyde: which team or driver do you think will surprise us the most this weekend, and what key factor will determine the race winner?
Eva Petrova: I’m keeping a close eye on Williams. If they can maintain this level of performance, they could be genuine contenders for points and podiums.As for deciding a winner–strategy, tire management, and reliability can all play significant roles. It also depends on who makes the best decisions to take home the gold.
Archyde: Eva, thanks again for yoru incredible insight.
Eva Petrova: My pleasure!
What do you think?
What are your predictions about the Australian Grand Prix? What factors will determine the race winner? Do you agree with Eva’s analysis? Share your thoughts in the comments section below we want to hear from you!
